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Nothing like jumping in at the deep mend of the pool and you may have just learnt an important lesson in this passion.
To whit; there is always something bigger and more expensive.
In my never humble opinion Liz is bang on. Go to a star party and get some first hand experience.
There is a reason they produce a multiplicity of telescope types... the reason is simply that there are a multiplicity of astronomy niches.
No one scope does everything well. As an example, my idea of fun under the stars is to try to replicate what the astronomers from the 1800's were seeing. For this niche a 4.5" reflector gives me what the casual observer might have been using, 8" gives me what serious but ill funded pros may have used and eventually a 16 to 24" will allow me to see what some well funded pros would have seen.
All 3 scopes will be reflectors and only the biggest will have tracking capability.
But the above is only me.
A good reflector in the 4.5 to 10" range on whatever mount appeals to you in your conditions will help you to find your niche.
Now if your niche happens to be astrophotography or really really faint fuzzies or magnificently constructed refractors I hope you are independently wealthy cause this can be a very expensive passion. though it does not have to be.
Brian
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